Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to this game

Defiance

Chapter 1

Before the story of Eliwood, Hector, and Lyndis, pieces were falling into place for their story to occur. Pieces that would later affect history in the continent of Elibe...

It was dark in the forest. Ephidel leapt from tree to tree, fleeing rapidly. His right arm hanged limply from his torso, mangled and bloody. He stopped suddenly on a tree branch…

"Dammit."

A silhouette of a slim figure appeared in front of him.

"Going somewhere?"

"Snap out of it Limstella – we're friends for heaven's sake! Please!

"Friends? Don't make me laugh. Friends are worthless. And you never were my friend.

A third voice came into the picture.

"Yes, that was before she became my puppet."

"Nergal… you are going to pay…" Ephidel breathed venomously.

"Heh heh heh… HAHAHAHAHAH!" Nergal tossed his head back and laughed, his voice echoing across the forest, "You are an insect railing against the heavens. You have no hope against me; the most you can do is beg for mercy and to join my legion!"

"You're insane."

"How impudent!" said Limstella, "Master, allow me to torture him before we kill him. Perhaps we could use thumbscrews or brands or…"

Ephidel wasn't listening to her – she was too far-gone and there was nothing he could do about it. The most he would be able to do would be to escape and at least save his life. He had to think of a plan fast.

'… … … … … … … … …Damn…'

Making strategies was most definitely not his strong suit. That didn't mean he wasn't intelligent – Ephidel simply didn't train his potential as a strategist. Suddenly, an idea hit him.

'Of course!'

Interrupting Limstella in her speech about torture, Ephidel turned around, dropped down from the branches, and RAN.

"Hmph. Don't think you're getting away from me that easily Ephidel!" cried Limstella.

But it was a ruse. In the canopy above, the pair of Limstella and Nergal smirked confidently as they waited for a whole minute. Then… a HUGE explosion on the outskirts of the forest overwhelmed the senses. After that, the pair disappeared from the forest and suddenly teleported in front of Ephidel. He was lying there dead or about to be. It was obvious that he was making a break for the river.

"Mines, a simple trap. Eh, Ephidel?" sneered Limstella.

Ephidel, the whole of his right body scorched, face down, stirred his head defiantly upwards at the pair.

"Shut up and get it over with."

"Limstella, do the honors," Nergal said.

"Of course, Master," she complied and looked down disgustedly at Ephidel.

Limstella drew out a tome of Elfire and quickly cast the deadly inferno. As she was drawing the flames above her head, she saw Ephidel still boldly looking up at her, yet there was something odd about his expression. She paused midway before launching the spell and kept it in suspension above her head.

"Why are you… smiling?"

"Hm? Oh, I was just remembering the first day we met."

"W-what? Urgh!" Limstella clutched her head as a painful memory clawed its way into her mind.

"Ah, those times we spent together were great," said Ephidel, tears starting to stream down his face, yet still smiling.

"Sh-shut up!" Limstella turned to Nergal.

"Do it Limstella," Nergal gravely urged.

Limstella turned back to Ephidel and finished casting Elfire, bringing it down on him. Nergal saw the blazing inferno come down upon Ephidel and the resulting blasts of dust come up.

"Hahaha… Excellent work my beautiful puppet. Let us depart at once."

"Yes… my master."

And with that, the pair teleported away.

But with her last glance back towards the fiery field, Limstella felt a drop of water tug from the corner of her eye.

"Goodbye..."

And they were gone.

But unbeknownst to her and to Nergal, only Ephidel's cloak lay upon the ground – not he.

Several hours later

Ephidel stirred in and out of consciousness.

"Who is that fellow?"

"Look at that arm – do you think he'll ever be able to use it again?"

"Who knows? Bishop Aquel is very skilled, but it looks pretty bad."

Stirring, Ephidel let out a groan of pain.

"Are you awake?"

Ephidel's eyes shot open like lightning. He sat up quickly, but then regretted the movement.

"Don't worry, no one will be attacking you, son."

The voice of an ancient, wrinkle-bearing bishop soothed Ephidel's worry and he relaxed as he lay back down.

He was in front of a church, in an open courtyard. He was lying down on an old round table in front, which was scattered with pillows, obviously brought from inside the church.

There was quite a crowd around Ephidel.

"Nothing much happens around here, so last night's explosions and then your appearing in the river was quite extraordinary," explained Bishop Aquel, "Lucky for you that you're still alive. On anyone else who has had injuries this bad, I would have been unable to heal. You've a strong will to live, son. So, what is your name?"

"It's... Ephidel."

"Well, Ephidel, I'm called Bishop Aquel around these parts. I won't ask you how you got those injuries, but I certainly hope that they heal right; you shouldn't move too much for the rest of the day - don't use your right arm especially."

Understanding, Ephidel moved his head in a bare up and down motion.

Ephidel's mind went into rewind.

"Limstella saved me," he reflected.

When the Elfire spell sped towards him, he saw Limstella move the trajectory down by just a hair, which instead of incinerating him, it blasted him into the river.

"I don't know if she meant to or not in her current state of mind, but subconsciously perhaps, she still lives."

"Bishop Aquel!" cried a local townsperson, "It's the bandits again!"

Ephidel laughed, weakly, "Bishop Aquel, I thought nothing much happens around here..."

"Well, I meant nothing much that doesn't involve bandits happens around here."

And with that, Bishop Aquel slowly tramped over to where a bandit leader had approached.

"Hey old man! We want our cut of the take!"

"Go away! We already paid this month's tribute."

"We're doubling the amount, so hand it over!"

"We have none for the likes of you!"

"Well, then, if you won't cooperate, then we'll just take it by force. Up and at 'em boys!"

The leader stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled. Hearing the signal, the rest of the bandits came out and poured into the confines of the village. The entire force was simply waiting on orders from the leader.

Bishop Aquel thought out a plan while this was happening. It was simple – disable the bandit leader, and the rest would run.

Grounding himself on the dusty road, Bishop Aquel took out an even dustier tome of Light magic from within his robes.

"Light of blessed Saint Elimine – guide my hand!"

A dazzling display of magic from the old priest materialized and struck the leader of the bandits square in the chest.

"Ugh!"

The old bishop smirked seeing that he had disabled the bandit.

The entire bandit army stood on end.

"Just kidding! Haha!"

"Hey boys! I wanna kill this one first before you guys do anythin'."

Swinging back for his axe strike, the bandit rushed at the old man. Not having enough time to dodge the blow, Bishop Aquel braced himself for the blow that would likely end his life.

Roaring, the bandit lashed out at the old man.

But in a flash, the bandit's axe hit nothing but air.

-Insert dramatic music here-

Ephidel had dashed over and snatched Bishop Aquel from the reach of the axe.

"Hey! Who the hell are you?"

"You don't need to know my name – you won't live long enough to remember it."

So. What do you think? Should I continue?